A costly lack of fortitude

Gov. Pat Quinn’s call for a special session to address Illlinois’ statewide capital improvement plan defines his administration to date. Start something. Finish it? ROFLMFAO.

The plan calling for $31 billion in new construction projects was approved two years ago. The financing part of the plan depended on a massive expansion of gambling via Video Poker for bars, restaurants and rest stops all over the state. Commitments were made, work was started and jobs were dependent upon Gov. Quinn’s roll of the state’s financial dice.

Craps.

Just like other Quinn initiatives so far (school district consolidation, for example) the governor made a big announcement of his new plan and then blew out the torch before passing it on for others to get the job done. Their task was incomplete because their was no organization for implementation.

Money for this summer’s roadwork was approved by the Illinois Senate Democrats in a separate measure that would have added $431 million to the trimmed-down state budget. But plan was never called for a vote in the House. The approved budget limits spending to $33.2 billion and Democrats in the Illinois House have so far joined Republican counterparts with support from the Senate GOP to hold the line on spending.

It’s not that the capital projects aren’t needed. And its not like many in the private sector couldn’t use those construction jobs. But until Quinn decides to stop his administration’s rapid decline to lamer than a duck status by finishing one of his initiatives the state’s capital program will be piece mealed together one earmark at a time.

Who needs schools, roads and bridges when you can have one of those trendy roundabouts.